Ecohealth Midterm Evaluation Gorongosa Restoration Project Gorongosa National Park
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ECOHEALTH ECOHEALTH MIDTERM EVALUATION GORONGOSA RESTORATION PROJECT GORONGOSA NATIONAL PARK By Lynne Gaffikin on behalf of the evaluation team October, 2013 1 Table of Contents ACRONYMS ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 BACKGROUND .................................................................................................................................... 5 GORONGOSA RESTORATION PROJECT (GRP) ............................................................................................. 5 ECOHEALTH PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................... 7 ECOHEALTH GOALS/OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................. 9 EVALUATION PURPOSE ................................................................................................................ 11 EVALUATION METHODS ................................................................................................................................ 12 EVALUATION FINDINGS ................................................................................................................ 13 MEETING OBJECTIVES .................................................................................................................................... 13 BEST PRACTICES ............................................................................................................................................ 15 MONITORING AND EVALUATION (M&E) ................................................................................................... 18 MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS ............................................................................................................. 20 GOING TO SCALE ............................................................................................................................................. 22 INTEGRATING FOOD SECURITY AND NUTRITION ...................................................................................... 24 LEVERAGING OPPORTUNITIES ..................................................................................................................... 28 SUSTAINABILITY APPROACHES AND CHALLENGES ................................................................................... 30 EVIDENCE OF SUCCESS: SCALE UP OR FOCUS IN? ....................................................................................... 33 GENDER EQUITY ............................................................................................................................................. 36 CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................................................ 39 CHALLENGES ................................................................................................................................................... 39 OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................................................................................. 51 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 59 TABLES ............................................................................................................................................... 61 Table 1: Gorongosa District Regulados .............................................................................................. 61 Table 2: Communities covered by Gorongosa District Health Centers ................................ 61 Table 3: Ecohealth support to 15 communities (as of September, 2013)* ........................ 62 ANNEXES ............................................................................................................................................ 63 Annex 1 - Map of the Park boundaries and BZ communities ................................................... 63 Annex 2 - GRP Organizational Chart ................................................................................................... 64 Annex 3 - Ecohealth Conceptual Framework .................................................................................. 65 Annex 4 - Evaluation Terms of Reference ......................................................................................... 66 Annex 5 - List of people interviewed .................................................................................................... 71 Annex 6 - Detailed Examples of Best Practices ............................................................................... 72 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................................... 76 2 Acronyms ACIS Commercial Association of Beira AEW Agricultural extension workers ANC Ante-natal care APE Community Health Worker (Agente polivilante elementar) AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome ARV Antiretrovirals BCC Behavior change communications BZ Buffer zone CB Community-based CEC Community Education Center CHASS-SMT Clinical HIV/AIDS Systems Strengthening in Sofala, Manica, Tete CF Carr Foundation CHW Community health worker CLC Community leadership council DPS Provincial Health Directorate FAO United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FFS Farmer Field School FP Family planning GBV Gender-Based Violence GGE Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem GHI Global Health Initiative GRM Government of the Republic of Mozambique HAI Health Alliance International HIV Human immunodeficiency virus IGA Income-generating activities IPS Integrated Package of Services IPT Intermittent preventative therapy for malaria GNP Gorongosa National Park GRP Gorongosa Restoration Project LTA Long-Term Agreement M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MOH Ministry of Health MINAG Ministry of Agriculture MMAS Ministry for Women and Social Action MNCH Maternal, newborn and child health MSGH Mount Sinai Global Health NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration NGO Non-Governmental Organization NRM Natural Resource Management PSI Population Services International OVC Orphans and vulnerable children PEPFAR President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief PES Economic and Social Development Plan PHE Population-health-environment PLHIV Persons living with HIV PMP Performance Monitoring Plan PMTCT Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission 3 QA Quality Assurance RH Reproductive Health SDAE District Services for Economic Activities SDPI District Services for Planning and Infrastructure SDSMAS District Services for Health, Women and Social Welfare TB Tuberculosis TBA Traditional Birth Attendant USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government WASH Water, hygiene and sanitation WLSA Women and Law in Southern Africa 4 Background Gorongosa Restoration Project (GRP) Gorongosa National Park (GNP) is located in the central Mozambique province of Sofala, surrounded by 6 districts (Gorongosa, Nhamatanda, Cheringoma, Muanza, Dondo and Maringue). Historically known for its diverse plant and animal populations, the park and its wildlife were devastated by the country’s many years of war. To help restore GNP’s 400 sq. km and associated ecosystem to its former vital state, in 2008, the Gregory C Carr Foundation (CF), entered into a 20-year Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with the Government of the Republic of Mozambique (GRM) to undertake the Gorongosa Restoration Project (GRP), working hand in hand with the Ministry of Tourism. Mount Gorongosa is a critical component of the regional ecosystem and in 2010 this area was officially linked to the national park. Taking Mount Gorongosa into account, the number of residents in the overall BZ has been estimated at between 150,000– 200,000 people. Key direct threats to the park, some interrelated (see below) include: Encroachment on protected areas Slash-and-burn agriculture Illegal logging Poaching Pollution from illegal alluvial gold mining In addition to increasing population growth, important drivers of the above conservation threats include: High levels of poverty in the surrounding communities Strong reliance on natural resources 1 GRP’s vision is biodiversity conservation that is actively linked with human and economic development to ensure that conservation benefits are locally realized and sustainable. Correspondingly, GRP’s core mission is the long-term protection of the Greater Gorongosa Ecosystem (GGE) for the benefit of its local residents. GRP’s mission is being realized via two interrelated efforts: restoration of the Park and sustainable development of surrounding communities, in particular those in the park’s Buffer Zone (BZ) (see Annex 1 for a map and boundaries of the Park including the 16 BZ communities). Key objectives of Park restoration are: i) protection of the Park’s biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes, and ii) regional poverty alleviation through ecotourism and other beneficial influences of the Park. The underlying assumption supporting these objectives is that a healthy, diverse ecosystem will provide an important foundation for economic and social development. Specifically, GRP is founded upon the belief that a sustainable tourism industry dedicated to maintaining ecological integrity within the Park and surrounding areas will stimulate economic growth, helping alleviate regional poverty. In this regard, successful